Palindromic Numbers and Companions

Many years ago I came across a method for practicing your addition

facts and having fun at the same time. It all has to do with

PALINDROMIC NUMBERS.

A Palindromic number is a numbers that looks the same backwards

and forwards; 101, 232, 5445, 63436.

If a number is Palindromic then it is its own companion, but if its

not then we need to figure it out. We start with 3–digit numbers,

and as you saw above 101 and 232 are already Palindromic. But what

about a number like 117. Sense it is not Palindromic we reverse the

number and add them together.

117

+ 711

828 Thus: 828 is the companion of 117.

What about 536

536

+ 635

1171 Not Palindromic so we do it again.

1171

+ 1711

2882 Thus: 2882 is the companion of 536

Now try 468

468

+ 864

1332

2331

+ 1332

3333 Thus: 3333 is the companion of 468

Last we will look at 579

579

+ 975

1554 Try again

1554

+ 4551

6105 Try again

6501

+ 1056

7557

We found the Companion 7557

If your class works on all of the 3–digit numbers up to 999, you will

find them being able to add faster. As they get into them, they will find

some that take as many as 15 steps. Also, when you see common

companions look back at the numbers and see how they relate.